Protective helmet



2 sheets Sheet 1 Snnentor (Ittomeg Tnomns BUPcHuecHJa April 29, 1941- 'r. B. UPCHURCH, JR

PROTECTIVE HELMET Filed Dec.

April 29, 1941- T. B. UPCHURCH, JR

PROTECTIVE HELMET Filed Dec. 26. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E l w an U M 0, 0D a M w T Zmventor (Ittomeg Patented Apr. 29, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTIVE HELMET Thomas B. Upchurch, Jr., Raeford, N. 0. Application December 26, 1939, Serial No. 310,971

Claims.

qualities, the light reflecting qualities, the weight,

the electrical conductivity and the noise that such an article will produce when contacted by other materials or objects.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article of the class described which is constructed from a properly-shaped steel mesh reinforcing material which is used as a foundation, said material being entirely covered with a vegetable compound, such as rubber, cotton and the like. By providing a helmet or shield made of this type of material, the strength can be made equal to or greater than the present steel helmet and at the same time, it will be practically noiseless, more light absorbent, more comfortable, more heat resistant, non-conductive of electricity, and lighter in weight.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a helmet made as above pointed out, which has 'a sponge or foam rubber cushion in the crown so that the top portion ofthe' head of the wearer can comfortably support the helmet.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a helmet made of vegetable fiber with a reinforcing mesh therein, said helmet having a resilient partition in the crown, thereby forming a water compartment in the upper portion of the helmet and a compartment for the head of the wearer therebelow. By providing this partition, a two-fold purpose is served, namely an emergency supply of water will be provided for the wearer, and also a cool resilient head cushion will be afforded by the lower surface of the partition.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved helmet;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of my improved helmet;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral [0 denotes a helmet made in accordance with the present invention, said helmet having a crown II and a brim l2. The under side of the helmet has secured thereto as at M and I5, suitable chin straps I6 and I1, respectively. The strap l6 has a buckle l8 secured to its lower end which is adapted to receive the lowermost end of strap l1 and besecured thereto by means of the holes l9 within this strap. Also disposed on the lower side of the helmet at a point substantially on the division line between the brim and the crown, is a sweat band 20 which may be of any suitable material such as leather or the like.

The helmet is rigidly shaped from a reinforced wire mesh 26, said mesh having a rubberized fabric layer 2'! on the upper side thereof, and a layer of cotton 28 disposed on the lower side, and adjacent thereto. Another layer of rubberized fabric 29 is disposed below the cotton or fibrous layer 28 so as to present a resilient smooth surface on the.

interior of the helmet, which surface is similar in external appearance to the exterior which is formed from rubberized fabricZ'l. It might be stated that it is preferable to have the foundation wire mesh 26 made of high tensile strength spring steel so as to give the finished helmet the desired degree of rigidity as well as added bullet or projectile resistance. The brim of the helmet is additionally reinforced by means of a wire head ring 36 which extends around the perimeter of the brim. 7

By referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that a Water compartment 3| is provided in the upper portion of the crown of the helmet. This water compartment may have water 32 therein which is adapted to be introduced through opening 33 which extends to the exterior of the uppermost point of the crown. This opening is normally closed by means of a knurled nut 34, said nu-t having chain 35 extending downwardly therefrom into compartment 3| with a catch or elongated member 36 secured to the lower end thereof to prevent the knurled nut 34 from becoming separated from the helmet when it is removed from the opening 33. The water 32 in the helmet is normally supported by a partition 38, which has its perimeter secured into the interior sidewalls of the crown of the helmet.

It is very desirable that the rubberized fabric be composed of a dark, non-reflective mate-rial, especially where the helmet is used for military purposes and it is not desired that the wearer be detected at a distance. Also as above pointed out, it can be made of strength equal to or greater than the present helmet and of no greater weight including the reserve supply of Water which is disposed in the compartment 3|.

Figure'e shows a slightly modified form of helmet which is broadly designated by the reference character 40. This helmet has a crown 4i and a brim 42. of the helmet as at 43 and 44 are chin straps 45 and 46 respectively. Chin strap 45 has a buckle 41 on the lower end thereof which is adapted to receive the lower end of the strap 46 and to be secured thereto by means of perforations 48, in this last-named strap.

On the interior of the helmet 413 at a point be tween the crown and the rim portion is a sweat band 50. Also disposed in the upper portion of the helmet and in the crown portion 4! is a head rest or cushion 5|, which is preferably formed of sponge or foam rubber. This is held in position in the crown by means of an annular member 52, and may be detached therefrom if desired.

The structure employed in the helmet 40 is very similar to that in the preceding form. It will be noted that a thick layer of rubberized fabric 54 is adapted to be disposed on the upper or exterior portion of the helmet. Directly below this rubberized fabric layer is a foundation member 55 which is preferably formed of high tensile strength spring steel wire mesh. This foundation member is bent to the desired shape prior to placing the rubberized fabric 54 thereover. Immediately below the wire mesh 55 is a layer of fibrous material such as cotton 51 and below this cotton layer is another layer of rubberized fabric 58, which is similar to the rubberized fabric 54 previously described. In order to give the brim of the helmet the desired rigidity, a suitable bead or ring 59 is provided. This ring is attached to the wire mesh at each point where thejmesh meets the bead ring. 1

It; is therefore seen that I have provided a light-weight helmet which has bullet or projectile resistant qualities; comfortable wearing qualities, non-light reflective-qualities, non-electrical conducting qualities, as well as having structural advantages over the all-metal helmet previously used for military and mining operations.

In the drawings and specification, therehas been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

Secured to the lower interior port-ionv I claim:

1. A helmet formed from a metallic meshed reinforcing foundation, shaped to conform to the head of a wearer, and having a resilient partition disposed in the crown of said helmet whereby a compartment thereabove will be provided for water or other liquid, and means for gaining access to said upper compartment.

2. A helmet formed from a metallic meshed reinforcing foundation shaped to conform to the head of a wearer, with a layer of fibrous material disposed adjacent said reinforcing material, a layer of rubberized fabric entirely covering both the foundation and the fibrous layer, and

, having a resilient partition disposed in the crown wire-meshmaterial, alayer of rubberized fabric covering the convex surface of the wire-mesh member, a reinforcing circular metallic member forming a part of the circumferential portion of the wire-mesh member, a layer of loose fibrous.

material disposed adjacent. the concave surface of the WireL-mesh member and a layer of rubberized fabric disposed on the concave surface of the loose fibrous material.

4. A helmet comprising a circular concavoconvex wire-mesh .member having areinforcing ring integralwith its periphery, a layer of cotton fibres disposed adjacent the concave surface of.

the wire-mesh member, and a plurality of layers of rubberized fabric covering-both the, concave and convex surfaces of the helmet and also the periphery of the wire-mesh member.

5. A helmet comprising a circular concavo-' convex wire-mesh member having a reinforcing ring integral with its periphery, a layer of cotton fibres disposed adjacent the concave surface of the wire-mesh member, a plurality of layers periphery of the wire mesh member, and a resili ent partition forming a compartment in the upper portion of the concave portion for the storage of a liquid.

THQMAS UPCHURCH, JR] 

